How much should I run in a week?

If you are asking this question perhaps you are either a beginner or someone who might be feeling burnt out and does not want to overdo it. Either way, you are right to ask and listening to your body is one of the most important tips I would provide any runner.

When you start running at first you will most likely do so by using a couch to 5k running app or similar. Even then, how often you run is up to you, so knowing how much your body can withstand is an important injury prevention method. My personal recommendation for beginners is three times per week. Even now that I am running a couple of years I tend to do most of my running miles in three days, with a very light run/walk once per week.

Build up the miles slowly, and do not run more than 600metres in addition each week. This is the golden rule of advice provided to most runners. It works like this, lets just say you are already running comfortably 5k. That’s your base distance so you should work towards running that distance three times per week, and on one of the runs, increase the distance by 0.5k or 6oo metres. So the next week do one 5k, one 5.6k and one 6.2k. Keep the runs slow to begin with and progress each week. There will be some week where you are just not feeling it, that’s fine , so just keep it light and do not overdo it. This is especially important if you are starting to run again after a brief spell of illness or a holiday.

After awhile you will be running 10k at a slow and comfortable pace with no problems. The gradual increase of distance and slow pace will help to keep injuries away also. Then the fun can begin an you can start to incorporate different types of running into your routine.

For example, Monday is my easy run day. I usually do about 9 or 10k at a slow pace. On Thursdays I do my speed session at my running track. It varies each week, and we usually do something like 12 splits of 400 metres at a very fast pace, and in between a couple of mins rest. Friday is my walk and run session just to loosen the muscles. Saturday I try to do my long run, which varies each week. My maximum distance so far is 18k.

Depending on what level you are running at, how far and often you run will vary. The important thing is to listen to you body, take it slow to begin with and build up the miles in your legs.

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